Colin's Background: Colin Woolf - Wildlife Paintings

Although he has always had a strong artistic ability, Colin didn't intend initially to pursue art as a career. Born in 1956 (yes, really - he looks so young for his age!), he grew up in the New Forest, spending all his spare time exploring the countryside around his home - discovering red and roe deer, watching birds, and catching snakes and insects.

Gradually learning a great deal about the woods and heathland of the New Forest throughout the seasons, Colin came to know many areas in great detail. He actually discovered the existence of a previously unknown species of vole, which was confirmed by the British Museum at the time. His love of nature inspired him to sketch and paint a lot of what he saw, and these talents developed alongside a growing interest in photography. As with everything, Colin studied this in depth and with great enthusiasm, even installing a darkroom in his house to print his own black-and-white photos

Colin soon released his first fine art prints, which were sold via a gallery in Wimborne. They were of a kestrel and a tawny owl, and they proved extremely popular - so much so that they were sold out almost as soon as they were displayed.

Leaving school with A'levels in Zoology, Chemistry and Physics, Colin opted for a career in science and studied Animal Physiology at Nottingham University. Here he discovered a natural talent for playing practical jokes, indulged his passion for playing Pink Floyd extremely loud, and developed a tendency to sketch the professors during lectures. This furthered his artistic skills but probably didn't contribute a great deal to his final grade! He graduated with an Honours degree in 1978.